Geoegb lane



G. LANE.

-RULBR.

Patented June 18, 1861i.

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GEORGE LANE, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

RULER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,571, dated June 18, 1861. l

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known'that I, GEORGE LANE, of 25 Park Place, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ruler; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- `Figure 1, is a top view of the improved uler, and getting on the paper which is beig. l. l

bimilar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in both figures.

The object of this invention and improvement in rulers is to eectually prevent ink from the pen, running over the edge of the ruler and getting on the paper which is being ruled.

The nature of my invention consists in forming in a suitably beveled straight edge of a wooden o-r metallic ruler, a deep groove of a suitable thickness which will absorb any ink running over the edge of the ruler and prevent the ink from getting on the paperV which is being ruled as will be hereinafter described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation. y

In the accompanying drawings, A, represents a ruler which may be made of any desired length, width and thickness. The straight edges of this ruler are beveled as shown in Fig. 2, and on one edge a thin metal plate a, is secured which is let into the back of the ruler flush with its surface. The edge of plate a, projects from the beveled edge b, of the ruler a suitable distance and this edge is marked o in eighths of inches, while the beveled edge ofthe portion A, is marked olf in inches and quarters of inches.

This edge will be found very useful in ruling lines, for dotting off on the paper the number of lines and the widths of the lines apart.

The opposite edge, which is the ruling edge, forms the subject of my invention. This edge is straight and consists of a rounded projecting bead c, and a fiat edge d, which are separated by a deep groove e, which may be termed the capillary groove as it will absorb any ink'which may run over the bead c, and prevent the ink from getting on the lower edge el, of the ruler. This groove e, should not be made very thick but it may be made as deep as desired and it should extend from one end to the other of the ruler.

If the beveled edge b, is not required, both edges of the ruler may be formed as described, with the capillary groove in them, and if Vdesirable two or more such grooves may be made into each edge of the ruler for absorbing the ink from the pen and preventing the ink from blotting the paper. Vhen the groove e, becomes filled up with dried ink it can be washed and scraped out very easily; again if it is desirable a strip of thick blotting paper may be inserted into the groove e, which can be removed when saturated with ink and another piece substituted in its stead.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

A ruler having a capillary groove e, formed in one or both of its straight edges,

substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

GEO. LANE.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON,` LEWIS A. TUCKER. 

